I really can't understand that when I tell people that Meg is nervous and that it would be best to just leave her alone because she may snap they then have to try to prove that they are the best dog handlers in the world and immediately swoop their hands down to her saying things like 'oh dogs like me!'   I had 7 strangers come into the house the other day and every single one went against my request to just ignore her and leave her alone.  So she ended up showing her teeth at the person who was tapping her on the nose with her toy and snapped at another hand that swooped in too fast.  None of these people knew a thing about dogs but they all thought they did.  A nervous dog with 3 or 4 people all trying to pat her at the same time and me just trying my best to remain really calm and to tell folks just please leave her.  She doesn't like being locked away but left to herself she will just settle down in the corner.  I never dreamed that they would all ignore me!!!!  This can happen when we are out too and I have to ask people not to stroke my dog.  Probabally wouldn't happen if she was big and ugly!!!

This is a why a muzzle can actually help the dog -because it is a visible signal to people to stay away, and I've never yet come across anyone WANTING to approach a dog wearing a muzzle.

Probabally wouldn't happen if she was big and ugly!!!

That's the key. :-D You can talk until you are blue in the face what you say and what she looks like do not compute in their minds. You need to use something which spells danger something as simple as tying a large red hanky to her collar it sends that subliminal message of danger, some may still ignore it but for many it will automatically make them 'think' better of it after your warning too.

It works in the same way as a spikey collar and other things that make us more wary of approaching people/animals, you may come up with something yourself as well that gives you a sense of danger, so will work with Meg too. :-)

Yes Goldmali that is the ultimate signal that a dog must not be approached, works everytime. :-)

I'd advise a water pistol. As soon as the person makes a move towards your dog give them a quick squirt on the nose!

You need an e-collar. Put one on each of your visitors and shock them as soon as they look at your dog.

Poor Meg :(

My last dog, a rescue lab cross, had issues with people in uniforms. He was also an escape artist so would be on a long-line when in the garden.

I was with him in the garden, he was tied out on a long-line, when a post woman entered the garden. She stopped & stood just out of reach of him, he was barking like crazy at her (she could get to the door with out needing to get close to the dog). She asked me if she could stroke him, I told her "NO!! he will bite you, he doesn't like your uniform" - the silly woman reached out to him whilst saying "dogs like me", and was actually suprised when he bit her!
Luckily, he did no damage, just a warning snap to her sleeve.

I know exactly how frustrated you are - even when people are blatently told NOT to touch/appraoch a dog, they think they know better

People, stupidly, do judge a dog by it's LOOK, rather than it's behaviour or the owners advice - no matter how much I try to tell some people that Buster is very friendly with other dogs, most don't believe me because of the way he looks!

ETA, LOL @ freelancer & parrysite's suggestions :-D

:-D :-D Like that one Parrysite. :-D

Wow, how disrespectful can people be? We've had similar with young bouncy dogs, I've given visitors the low down before entering ie, ignoring dog, not whipping him into excitement etc. It always worked because our visitors respected that it was our house, our dogs and our rules.

Personally I'd not be inviting anyone into my house I couldn't rely on to do as I request especially when it comes to the dogs. After all, would you have a smoker light up in your lounge because they felt like it if you don't do so yourself?

I would definitely be putting my dog into another room, or behind a baby gate if I couldn't completely trust the visitor to do as requested, after all, she could be completely put back by people acting this way in HER own home where she should feel the most comfortable.

I have Goldens, not generally a breed people shy away from, but having 3 of them vying for your attention can be a little intimidating for some people. I therefore always put them away if I'm not sure how comfortable a visitor will be with the dogs. They can come say hello one at a time or all at once if the visitor is happy to do this, but I'm definitely not one of those people who insist "love me love my dogs". My best friend is terrified of them, and my own mum who thinks she's the expert having watched lots of Cesar Milan, suddenly loses her "confidence" when confronted with 3 waggy tailed large dogs! Any other Golden people I know however would be offended if they weren't greeted by my gang, that's probably why they come to visit right? lol

Sorry this has happened, perhaps you should be more forthright next time...

I wouldnt put her in that position.
Seven strangers in the same room is asking for trouble, theres always one wise guy at the very least.

You need an e-collar. Put one on each of your visitors and shock them as soon as they look at your dog
I'd advise a water pistol. As soon as the person makes a move towards your dog give them a quick squirt on the nose!

Love it!!!

I wouldnt put her in that position.

I agree -and this is why I said about a muzzle, to keep people away. I say this as somebody who owns a dog like this. It's simply not fair on the dog, and the majority of people will never understand. My stepson LIVES with my dog in question and not even HE understands -because he only knows what the dog is like with him, and as he is not allowed to walk him or anything, has never seen him around strangers. He just says the dog is not scared of anything! It's up to us to protect dogs like this -not only by making sure they don't get scared and made worse, but because if anybody DID end up getting bitten the outcome could be a courtcase and a dead dog......

try having people purposly scairing your dog when they know your having issues with her being nevours.

Had it the other week when we took her to see a friend and her husband was there (he works away so we never know if or when he is there) my girl is afriad of him as all men she doesnt knwo well but if he doesnt move or speak to her she will settle down and ignor him, well she barked at him the last time so what did he do he barked back at her. His wife soon told him off for it as my girl threw her self onto her lap and around her face and my girl isnt light. Also had to tell my brother to stop scairing my girl when we went down last, he had something and it made her jump so he kept calling her over and then scairing her with it.

> I've never yet come across anyone WANTING to approach a dog wearing a muzzle.

That is a good point thank you Marianne.  I would never have believed that I would have to muzzle my dog to stop people touching her.  I couldn't shut her away anywhere - there were fireworks about.  Normally I would have given her a nice chew and sent her up the garden out of the way for a while.

I think theres some sort of misconnected wire in some peoples brains.

I had a bloke in our old house, turned up to deliver something - he had his two dogs in the back of the car, old englishes, full coat, hair over their eyes (this is relevant).

He came in and I explained that our Tibetan Terrier has some sight problems and is nervous, and he had also just pulled his hair bobble out, so could the man just ignore him - 'Oh yes, one of our dogs is a bit nervous' he says... so I relaxed a little..

FOOL...... he stepped too close and Errol barked at him in his 'get back you scary beast' bark.. and  *insert expletive here* man turns, towers over him, and goes WOOF WOOF WOOF in his face....

I was absolutely staggered and I generally think I am pretty aware that a huge percentage of the human race can be indescribably stupid... even his wife looked shocked. I just shouted at him to get out, right now and put Errol in another room but I was FURIOUS, we had actually be discussing how hard it is to fix a fear based problem and he goes and does something like that!

So now I assume everyone is a complete moron until they prove, multiple times, that they are not, and I don't EVER put my dogs at risk.

If that means I muzzle him and I walk down the street asking people to give me space because 'the small black one is vicious' then so be it, I don't care what people think now, if it gets Errol the space he needs (and that approach DOES where nothign else has) then I'll do it. (I don't street walk him much but sometimes we get a bit 'trapped' and its necessary).

Same here,I have strictly told strangers who come into the house to not touch the dogs,one being a plumber who was told told not to touch,but sadly my dog peg,whos a saluki, sitting in her bed looking the picture of innocence ,he just couldn't resist and was very suprised when he got bitten(not badly,but still)
I now put them both in the garden most times,but I have to say I am very pleased with both my dogs at the moment as we have had a lot of building work done and they have been really good,the builders listened and stayed away from them,only one incident with the plasterer,who said Im not scared of dogs boldly went up to my dog and very gently stroked him,to my relief,daws did not react and to be honest looked relaxed and happy ,but the next day he did the same and my poor boy freaked out(but no biting)
I then had to give my lecture on rescue dogs and issues,and he probabaly regretted meeting me.and my dog.But he still made a nice job of plastering my wall!

Due to the nature of our business people come & go, & for my dogs safety unless I'm taken unawares they are always contained at the back of the house. Used not to allow children but learnt early on, that common sense & respect does not come with age. Had a couple with us for some days who didn't like dogs, paying them no attention but one morning as we were chatting the dogs came over to the gate to say hello. The 'gentleman' asked if he could stroke Lucas & said yes, but in the few seconds that I looked away he had leaned over, forced Lucas's mouth open & had his hand in his mouth! At the time don't know if I was more surprised that Lucas had allowed this or at the mans gross stupidity, his explanation was that he wanted to look at his teeth!!
Now no one touches the dogs unless I really know them & even then probably not. It's summed up by people who try & be clever asking them to sit (take into account here they are not known for their response time) & if they don't immediately react their voice gets louder & louder with the hand coming down faster & faster over their heads.

I appreciate some of these stories are historical but didn't the law change recently to protect people coming to a property during the course of their work?
I know people can behave stupidly but ultimately, regardless of the law, surely it is our responsibilty to always saveguard other people and by that I would say it is our responsibility to prevent any possibility of them coming into physical contact with any dog of uncertain temperament. Personally, I would treat non tradesmen visitors to the same level of security.